WE know, Big Brother. We know what you’re doing. Well played, I must admit. Now you shall be the only one writing non-fiction, because all others, including this write-up, will be considered – under the new legislation – fiction.

Who needs Hollywood when we have you? There are more plot twists and turns watching your game of charades than a Steven Spielberg blockbuster, and for the most part, it just gets better every day. No one can deny it’s got everything – crime, drama, animation, romance, horror, adventure, thrill, and the list goes on – it’s surprising you haven’t won any film awards yet.

With the new law – one source for all, all for one source – authorising only one sole author to create stories from thin air to share with the nation, it’s now official: we live in a totalitarian society, not a democratic one. Forget freedom of thought, speech, press and the newfound social media, for they shall be eliminated forever. From now on, all other sources of news from inside and outside the country are deemed fake and untrustworthy.

To newscasters, broadcasters, editors, and journalists, looks like your time’s up, so pack up, go home and take an early retirement in a tropical paradise in Bali or somewhere in Thailand. Our beloved Big Brother will now take over your responsibility of producing free and fair news for us all. Whether we’re at war with Eurasia today or Eastasia tomorrow, who knows? Only Big Brother knows the truth and I am sure he’ll keep us in the loop.

To Big Brother, no need to trouble yourself with turning lies into truths. We’re well acquainted with Orwell’s 1984, which you now take as an instruction manual. We know what will happen next, so spare us the details.

To victims of democracy, to citizens of Malaysia, keep fighting for justice and equality, for without your fighting spirit, freedom will be a thing of the past and life will not be lived.

*Diane reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.